As the climate changes, it’s not too late to save ourselves. There is cause for both optimism and pessimism—salvation could take the form of easy technological fixes or cataclysmic climate events that force us to work together. Barring a groundbreaking technological breakthrough, one of the most likely pathways to climate action is via social movements. Activism through nonviolent protest has been found to be successful in achieving its goals if a critical mass of 3.5% or more of the population is mobilized, In other words, if 11.5 million Americans march in the streets and stay engaged, they can help bring about the radical social and political transformation needed to stop climate change. Beyond responses to repressive and autocratic rule, though, there are very few examples of sustained activism at this level of engagement.
So what will it take to get millions of Americans to do what is needed to stop the climate crisis?
